Matt Brooks pitched six strong innings on Thursday night at the Harry K. Sickler Athletic Complex and Tyler Golden cleaned up the last inning in a 6-3 Tyrone Legion triumph over Corporal Miller.
Brooks scattered six hits, struck out seven and didn’t walk a batter, while the Tyrone Legion offense pounded out five extra-base hits among their total, and Donnie Hunter, Eric Desch, Tyler Golden and Mike Moore all had two hits apiece.
After Cpl. Miller opened the scoring with an unearned run in the first, Tyrone Legion bounced right back with a tally of their own. Hunter led off with a walk. Brooks hit a shot to the shortstop and when it was bobbled, Tyler beat it out. Desch banged a hit to left that scored Hunter, but Brooks was thrown out at the plate trying to score on the play.
Tyrone had a chance to score in the second, when a walk to Cody Smith and single by Hunter left runners on second and third, but couldn’t score.
Cpl. Miller took the lead in the fourth, and Tyrone Legion again came right back. Moore doubled to right center to begin the frame, and Smith singled to get him home.
After Brooks retired Cpl. Miller in the top of the fifth, on a strikeout and double play, the Legion struck for three runs to take the lead for good.
Brooks started it with a single, then Desch singled. Golden delivered a double to score Brooks, and Moore singled to drive in both Desch and Golden.
“Tonight, Matt Brooks pitched a really masterful six innings, striking out seven and not walking a batter,” said Tyrone Legion manager Chris Futrick. “He was in command of all his pitches and was very effective. Tyler Golden is coming back from a sore arm and when he is healthy, he is unhittable. I have three excellent pitchers in Brooks, Golden and Eric Desch, who will pitch tomorrow night. Eric is very hard to hit when he has good stuff.”
Following a Cpl. Miller score in the top of the sixth, Tyrone Legion added an insurance tally in the home half of the inning. Hunter belted a triple and Desch singled him home.
“Our hitting is coming around,” explained Futrick. “Donnie Hunter, Brooks and Desch have all been hitting the ball really hard, and Golden and Adam Bonsell have been coming through with some big hits in key situations. I have nine guys in the lineup that can flat out hit.”
Golden came in to pitch the seventh for Tyrone Legion, and took care of business, retiring the side in order to pick up a save.
“This was a victory to build on, another step in the right direction,” said Futrick. “Corporal Miller had defeated us by two runs in the first game of the year, with the same pitchers they threw at us tonight. My team is progressing well, but it is still hard to get everyone to the games. We are improving in every area with every game we play.”
Tyrone Legion (4-5) will host Juniata VFW (10-2) at the Harry K. Sickler Complex in Tyrone tonight at 6 p.m.
Tyrone Legion 6 Corporal Miller 3
Cpl. Miller – J. Snyder, 2b, 3-1-1; Pryne, 2b, 0-0-0; Hopkins, ss, 2-1-1; Carper, rf, 3-1-1; J. Smith, 3b, 3-0-2; Cheslock, 1b-p, 3-0-2; Prugar, p, 0-0-0; Murphy, cf, 3-0-1; Conrad, p-1b, 32-0-1; Gaeto, c, 3-0-1; Whipple, cr, 0-0-0; Russell, lf, 2-0-0; W. Snyder, cr-ph, 1-0-0. TOTALS 27-3-8.
Tyrone Legion – Hunter, 2b-lf, 3-2-2; Brooks, p-ss, 4-0-1; Desch, 1b, 4-1-2; Golden, ss-p, 4-1-2; Anders, c, 3-1-1; Moore, cf, 4-1-2; Bonsell, lf-2b, 3-0-0; C. Smith, 3b, 1-0-1. TOTALS 29-6-11.
Cpl. Miller 100 101 0 3- 8- 2.
Tyrone Legion 100 131 X 6-11-1.
E: Hopkins, Murphy, Bonsell.
2B: J. Smith, Hopkins, Conrad, Golden, Moore.
3B: Hunter.
RBI: J. Smith, Murphy, Desch 2, Golden.
SO: Conrad 1, Brooks 7.
BB: Conrad 2, Cheslock 1.
WP: Brooks LP: Cheslock SAVE: Golden
